E

error diffusion

The slight change of adjoining pixels to average pixel values. This smooths an area and eliminates the graininess of a digital image.

ESC

Abbreviation for ESCape.

escapement

the side by side placement of type characters to form a line.

Escher

Maurits Escher (1898-1972) was a Dutch graphic artist, most recognized for spatial illusions, impossible buildings, repeating geometric patterns (tessellations), and his incredible techniques in woodcutting and lithography. I like his work a lot so his appearance in this dictionary is just an excuse to show one of his magnificant creations.

Escher-Grad

The Montreal, Quebec Canada-based developer and manufacturer of large format precision imaging systems for the electronics and graphic arts industries.

ESQ

Abbreviation for Enhanced Screen Quality: Monotype’s term for its TrueType fonts that have been very carefully hinted.

estimate

The form used by the printer to calculate the project for the print buyer. This form contains the basic parameters of the project including size, quantity, colors, bleeds, photos etc.

estimator

One who computes or approximates the cost of work to be done on which quotation may be based.

ETAOIN SHRDLU

Text that would from time to time accidentally appear in publications back in the days when Linotype machines were used for composition. When an operator made a typo, he would use all the keys of the first two vertical columns on the left side of the keyboard to indicate that this line of text was incorrect. Occasionally such incorrect slugs of text would still wind up on the printing plate. The letters on the keyboard were arranged by letter frequency, which happens to be ‘etaoinshrdlu’ for the English language. In other languages, the same type of mistake was ‘esait nrulo’ (French), ‘enis ratulo’  (German), ‘eaosr niltu’ (Spanish) or ‘aeion lrtsu’ (Italian).

etching

The process of producing an image on a plate by the use of acid.

even smalls

The use of smaller sized capitals at the beginning of a sentence without the use of larger sized caps.

exception dictionary

In page composition, a resident list of words that cannot be hyphenated correctly using the available hyphenation algorithm. A user defined exception dictionary contains words that a user wants to hyphenate differently than the hyphen points suggested by the algorithm.

exclamation mark

expanded type

Type with width greater than normal producing a rectangular effect.

expansion board

A plug-in circuit board used to expand the functions of a computer.

expansion bus

Electronic plugs or connectors inside the computer where expansion boards can be added

expert font

An additional font designed to accompany a standard font, providing a range of characters not included in the standard character map like ligatures, small capitals, old-style figures, etc. Expert fonts are just about useless without their companion standard fonts.

expert system

A computer controlled system that executes functions normally requiring the decision making ability of someone with a particular skill

export

To output data in a format that can be read by another software application.

exposure

The stage of the photographic process where the image is produced on the light sensitive coating.

exposure level

The quantity of light that is allowed to act on a sensitized material, such as film, paper or plate, or an electronic sensor, such as CCD

exposure

The amount and duration of illumination striking a sensitized material, such as film, paper or plate, or an electronic sensor such as a CCD.

extended

In typesetting, fonts that have broadened character, widths, but no increase in height. Extended is the opposite of compressed. Sometimes referred to as expanded.

extended type

A wider version of a regular typeface

extender

A white pigment added to a colored pigment to reduce its intensity and improve its working qualities.

extension

A small utility for the Macintosh operating system, that gives the operating system new capabilities. Some applications like PhotoShop or Acrobat support a similar kind of tools which are called plug-ins.

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